CPC A61H 9/0071 (2013.01) [B60N 2/976 (2018.02); A61H 9/0078 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0149 (2013.01); A61H 2201/0169 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1207 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1238 (2013.01); A61H 2201/1409 (2013.01); A61H 2201/5056 (2013.01); B60N 2/914 (2018.02)] | 20 Claims |
1. A pneumatic system comprising:
a fluidic switching module including
an air connection inlet configured for connection to a source of pressurized air,
a plurality of air connection outlets each in fluid communication with the air connection inlet,
a first cascading subsystem downstream from and in fluid communication with the air connection inlet and configured to receive a pressurized airflow from the air connection inlet,
a second cascading subsystem downstream from and in fluid communication with the first cascading subsystem, and
a third cascading subsystem downstream from and in fluid communication with the first cascading subsystem,
wherein the first cascading subsystem is configured to passively bias the pressurized airflow from the air connection inlet to the second cascading subsystem, wherein the second cascading subsystem is in fluid communication with a first and a second air connection outlet of the plurality of air connection outlets, and wherein the second cascading subsystem is configured to passively bias the pressurized airflow received from the first cascading subsystem between the first and second air connection outlets in a staggered fashion,
wherein the first cascading subsystem is configured to switch and deflect the pressurized airflow from the second cascading subsystem to the third cascading subsystem in response to a first backpressure received from the second cascading subsystem,
wherein the third cascading subsystem is in fluid communication with a third and a fourth air connection outlet of the plurality of air connection outlets,
wherein the third cascading subsystem is configured to passively bias the pressurized airflow between the third and fourth air connection outlets in a staggered fashion,
wherein the first cascading subsystem is configured to switch and deflect the pressurized airflow from the third cascading subsystem back to the second cascading subsystem in response to a second backpressure received from the third cascading subsystem, and
wherein the fluidic switching module is configured to cyclically and sequentially direct the pressurized airflow between the plurality of air connection outlets without any moving parts or external controls.
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